DESTINATION

Clockwise: The Woodlands Resort has 60,000 square feet of meeting space. Woodforest Bank Club overlooks the worldfamous Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Westin at The Woodlands features a prime location and luxury amenities.

HOMETOWN FAVORITE

The Woodlands’ community spirit offers a warm welcome

for groups. BY TERESA KENNEY

SEVEN YEARS AGO, I moved to The Woodlands from out of state to be closer to family. What I was hoping to find was a familial connection that had been missing ever since I moved away from Indiana, where I was born and raised. What I found, however, was so much more: An eclectic, diverse and welcoming community that I am so proud to call home. I also found a wonderful destination for meetings and events.

Located less than 30 miles from Houston and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, The Woodlands is surrounded in nature yet imbued with urban culture and amenities. It also has a range of accommodations and venues to choose from. “With some of the best hotel and meeting spaces around, The Woodlands is a great location for planners and attendees alike,” says Josie Lewis, director of sales for Visit The Woodlands.

WHERE TO STAY

Here are some spots to consider staying at when you’re in my “new” hometown:

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Featuring 345 rooms and 66,000 square feet of event space, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel is within walking distance of Market Street (an open-air retail village), The Woodlands Mall, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, cinemas and a variety of dining destinations. The hotel has a full-service spa, fitness center and numerous on-site dining options.

The Woodlands Resort Located on Lake Harrison, The Woodlands Resort features 402 rooms, lagoon-style pools, tennis courts, restaurants, bars, a lazy river and golf course access. It also includes 60,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 13,430-square-foot Grand Ballroom.

The Westin at The Woodlands The 302-room Westin at The Woodlands offers more than 28,000 square feet of meeting space and a prime walking location near entertainment, restaurants and outdoor recreation.

For team-building or a fun post-meeting activity, check out Texas TreeVentures.

Hyatt Centric Overlooking the outdoor shopping and lifestyle center Market Street, the 72-room Hyatt Centric is a boutique full-service hotel. Amenities include a fitness center, infinity pool, destination dining, and approximately 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

WHERE TO MEET

Want to meet off-site? Here are some venues to consider:

Woodforest Bank Club Located at the world-famous Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, the Woodforest Bank Club offers more than 1,600 square feet of event space and two patio decks overlooking the Pavilion stage.

The Pavilion Event Center Also located at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, this multi-purpose, 21,000-squarefoot facility has two movable walls allowing for the space to be divided into three separate rooms, each offering state-of-the-art multimedia capabilities. The event center also has its own entrance and restaurants.

The Woodlands Country Club Offering golf course views and seating for more than 300 people, the country club has a number of private rooms available for VIP receptions or lunch or breakfast meetings.

WHAT TO DO

Post-meeting recreation in The Woodlands ranges from high-brow to high-wire.

Glade Gallery Showcasing contemporary artists in a bright, open space, Glade Gallery also hosts weekly live music.

Texas TreeVentures Texas TreeVentures is an outdoor aerial, three-

BY THE NUMBERS

220 MILES OF HIKING AND BIKING PATHWAYS 4,445 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE 60-plus ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS 109,000-plus RESIDENTS 1974—THE YEAR THE WOODLANDS WAS FOUNDED 200 ACRES—THE SIZE OF LAKE WOODLANDS

level adventure course, which neighbors the 1,800-acre George Mitchell Nature Preserve. It’s also available for private events or corporate team-building activities.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion One of the top outdoor amphitheaters in the world, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion has hosted an impressive list of performers, including Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack Johnson, Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Kenny Chesney. The pavilion also hosts community events, movie nights and performances by the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera.

Riva Row Boathouse/Lakes Edge Boat House Take to Lake Woodlands via Riva Row Boathouse or Lakes Edge Boat House, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, swan boats or water bikes.

For post-meeting exploring on their own, your guests can hop on the complimentary The Woodlands Trolley, which will connect them to The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Town Center, The Woodlands Waterway, and Hughes Landing’s restaurant row and hotels.

Need more help navigating the area? Lewis encourages planners to “Reach out to us anytime so we can help make your planning process a breeze.”

Get Connected

VISIT THE WOODLANDS visitthewoodlands.com